Handheld LAMP Detector with Nested Optical and Heating Assembly

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current LAMP detectors are large and cumbersome, making them difficult to use for portable nucleic acid amplification and detection, and they lack integrated solutions for efficient heating and fluorescence detection.

Innovation Solution

A hand-held LAMP detector system with a compact design, featuring a microfluidic chip with arc-shaped bending portions to prevent reagent backflow and a heating assembly with a heat conducting plate, thermal insulation, and a motorized optical detection system for isothermal amplification and fluorescence analysis, allowing for automatic operation and result display.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a conventional LAMP detector integrates heating and optical detection components, then nucleic acid amplification and detection can be performed, but the device becomes large and cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegrated nucleic acid amplification and detectionVSAvoiddetector size
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements nesting by placing the optical detection device inside the heating assembly structure. The optical detection device is positioned within the inner cavity of the housing, and the heating assembly surrounds or is integrated with the reaction chamber, creating a nested configuration where detection components are housed within the heating structure, thereby reducing overall device volume while maintaining both functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the heating assembly and optical detection device into a single integrated unit. The housing contains both the heating assembly for isothermal amplification and the optical detection device for fluorescence detection, with both components sharing the same spatial envelope and control system, enabling combined amplification and detection in one compact device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If the optical detection device is stationary, then the structure is simple, but it cannot detect multiple reaction chambers efficiently

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection efficiencyVSAvoidoptical detection system structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the optical detection device movable rather than stationary. The optical detection device can move along the left-right direction to position itself over different reaction chambers for detection. This dynamic positioning capability enables efficient detection of multiple reaction chambers while keeping the overall system relatively simple through the use of a linear guide rail and motor mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the microfluidic chip has straight channels, then the structure is simple, but reagents may backflow and cause contamination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereagent flow controlVSAvoidmicrofluidic chip structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses curvature by incorporating arc-shaped bending portions in the microfluidic chip channels instead of straight lines. The first microchannel includes at least one arc-shaped bending portion that prevents reagent backflow by creating flow direction changes. This curved channel design maintains reliability in reagent flow control while keeping the chip structure relatively simple and manufacturable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system enables efficient, portable nucleic acid detection with automatic heating and fluorescence analysis, improving detection efficiency and reducing the risk of reagent contamination, while maintaining a compact size suitable for handheld use.

Implementation Method 1

a heating assembly for isothermally heating the microfluidic chip, the heating assembly being arranged in the inner cavity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIsothermal heating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

adds fluorescent dyes or fluorescent markers in the process of nucleic acid amplification, uses optical devices to detect the intensity of fluorescent signals

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluorescence detection: Fluorescence

Implementation Method 3

the heating assembly comprises a heat conducting plate, a heating film, a thermal insulation pad, a temperature sensor and a fuse wire, the thermal insulation pad is arranged on the chip seat, the heating film is arranged on the thermal insulation pad, the heat conducting plate is arranged on the heating film

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 4

the thermal insulation pad is arranged on the chip seat, the heating film is arranged on the thermal insulation pad

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP4166233A1Hand-held lamp detector and system
Publication Date: 2023.04.19 HEMOSMART MEDICAL TECH LTD
  • EP4166233A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4166233A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4166233A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention discloses a hand-held LAMP detector and a hand-held LAMP detection system. The hand-held LAMP detector comprises: a housing with an inner cavity and a chip port for inserting a microfluidic chip; a chip seat arranged in the inner cavity and having an accommodating space for accommodating the microfluidic chip; a heating assembly for isothermally heating the microfluidic chip, and arranged in the inner cavity; an optical detection device movably arranged in the inner cavity, the optical detection device having a plurality of detection positions which respectively corresponds to a plurality of reaction chambers of the microfluidic chip; a driving mechanism to drive the optical detection device to move, the driving mechanism being arranged in the inner cavity.